I had a 45-90 built up on a British military Martini .303. This was ordnance rework of a 450-577,. The most important features were Nitro proof (.303) and a dovetail insert on the breech face to allow a small diameter firing pin for higher pressure cordite and other smokeless powder loads. The 303 chamber was ok but the bore was near the end of its service life.A new 0.458 standard profile barrel was fitted and chambered in 45-90.Following are the three most consistent and effective jacketed loads on large hogs. Modern drawn brass cases,Federal 210 LR primers and IMR 3031.405gr Remington IMR 3031 67.5gr 2130fps400gr Speer IMR 3031 67gr 2130fps350 gr Hornady IMR 3031 69.5gr 2270fpsI had a set of express three leaf sights fitted. I did a reasonable amount of load development so as the above had almost identical point of impact out around 70yds. The above loads gave faultless extraction!I never got around to shooting cast gas check loads as the barrel was button rifled. I felt the rifling was too shallow for full on gas check loads. Also, on large hogs a single one shot kill or disable is essential when hunting alone. A 44 or 45 hand gun is good insurance but remember you have to be proficient in the draw , getting a kill or major disable with the first. All this must be flawless in execution when you are under pressure.

Those loads should git 'er done, but are they much faster than what can be done with a 45/70? I kinda thought the 45/90 would be capable of more, as in 458WIN numbers. Have you tried to run it up a little hotter yet? Any thoughts about or plans to? MAybe this is a hot as you care for or need them to be, which is still a thumper of a load.

I am in the process of developing loads for a new (to me) .458WM along the lines of the .45-90 using cast bullets. My rifle is a custom Mauser.What rate of twist is your new barrel? What is the barrel length?

Ed

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"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell

MK1What is the barrel length? I have seen a couple of those in 45-70 but not the longer 90. I have a Ruger #1 in 45-90 and am using 65 grains of 3031 with the 405. Like you no pressure signs, but a fair amount of recoil, I have no need to go higher. I really want to shoot something with it!!!

This rifle was built for a specific purpose as detailed. Adequate for hogs with easy extraction. But one must not forget just plain old informal target practice. A most pleasant pursuit.The listed loads are reasonable for plenty of range practice. A field carry rifle just over 8lb 24inch barrel.For big game I use 465 or 500gr in a 458 Win Mag , and a 375H&H with 300gr or in a 375Chatfield Taylor 250 or 270gr .As a younger man I favoured the 416 Rigby but, I grew to dislike the very sharp recoil.

All:I bought my Miroku/Winchester 1886 .45-90 with 26" full octagon barrel at 9.5 pounds, with the express intent(pun intended) of hunting with it with both standard and heavy loads.

A couple of friends and I collaborated with our own handloads and had the 300 grain Nosler PP up to 2600 but they exploded at that velocity, so we backed down to 2200 fps which is the upper limit of that bullet's useability on game; it is devasting. That load has also flattened a big leopard with one shot.

We loaded NF and Kodiak 450 grainers up 2000 and 2100 respectively but were not satisfied, so Grizzley Cartridge took the Kodiak on up to 2150 fps. That load knocked down a bull ele with a frontal brain shot but expanded and did not penetrate the brain, so the somewhat slower NF was used to finish it off with a shoot through. The Kodiak load also flattened a running bison in rather spectacular fashion and did shoot through. Yes, it does recoil but does so without enough barrel lift to obscure the target. If needed, second shots can be taken very rapidly.

PS The 1886 also shoots .45-70 factory ammo just fine and with modest recoil.

A couple of friends and I collaborated with our own handloads and had the 300 grain Nosler PP up to 2600 but they exploded at that velocity, so we backed down to 2200 fps which is the upper limit of that bullet's useability on game; it is devasting. That load has also flattened a big leopard with one shot.

1876 and 1886 Winchesters made a bit of a name for themselves in Africa and India for cats with express loads like that...the lighter bullets pushed fast were devastating on thin skinned game like the big cats and lever guns made for a damn quick second shot for the guys that couldnt afford double rifles....IIRC the 1876 in 50-95 loaded with 300 grain bullets was considered real good medicine for tiger....

safariman,Here are pictures of the 450 grain NF FPS and the 450 grain heavy jacket FP FMJ Kodiak bullets used in the .45-90 loads.It is easy to see which bullet leaves the most space in the case for powder.

The batch of Kodiaks that went to Africa were custom loaded by Grizzly cartridge with their proprietary powder and techniques, so load details are unavailable.

I will check my load notes on the NF loads and send a PM, but it will be a few days before I get back to where this information is located.

Safariman,For our loading project, I donated the new Starline .45-90 brass, the bullets, primers, and the Miroku Winchester 1886 rifle and my frinds did the loading and test firing with Chronograph. They used their H322 powder and settled on 2200 fps with the 300 grain Nosler PP bullets.They settled on 1950 with the NF 450 grain FPS. They peaked at 2050 with the 450 grain ABW Kodiak heavy jacket FP FMJ bullets, so this part of the project was picked up by Grizzly cartridge who took it on up to 2150 fps.

I am very pleased with the 450 Kodiak loads by Grizzly and the 300 Nosler work well.

However, I had difficult ejection problems when firing a series of 5 practice shots offhand with the 450 grain NF ammo. I believe the H322 to be the wrong powder for this type load and plan to pull the NF bullets and use some other powders that have done well with heavy loads in big bore straight wall brass. For this reason, I do not recommend the H322 for this application and therefore will not provide any more detail on those loads.If and when the other powder performs as expected, I should get a little more velocity at less pressure and will then gladly share the data.

Check the Jan-Feb 2012 issue of Texas Sporting Journal for the cover story by David Sefton about how he had to use his .45-90 Sharps to kill a rogue bull elephant after three .458 Win Mag bullets had failed to penetrate! I could tell you more, but then you would not enjoy the story of the hunt so much.